#both went to labour camp

[andorerso]

sorry but comparing whether Jyn or Cassian suffered more in their life like it's the fucking trauma Olympics is fucking ridiculous

they both suffered the same and it's literally not a competition, hope this helps <3

#let's see they both lost their parents around the same age #cassian was kidnapped and lost his sister #jyn was a child soldier #(and so was cassian if you wanna go by his original backstory but i digress) #both had an unstable childhood #both had to watch their parent die actually (lyra and clem) #jyn was abandoned by saw cassian was in juvie #both went to labour camp #they literally both went through the same things but please tell me how cassian had it so much easier than her i'd like to hear #again it's not a competition anyway #but it's ridiculous to even compare when they went through pretty much the same shit lmao #im fucking tired of this narrative #i swear some of y'all don't even like cassian lmao #shut up sissi #discourse #maybe i'll delete this later #im just fucking tired #stop pitting jyn and cassian against each other #they're equals that's the best part about them!! my god #anyway this is a cassian andor defense account #don't talk to me if you don't like him

[hailuchiha]

DEAD DOVE: DO NOT EAT

!! MINORS DNI !!

!! 18 + NSFW CONTENT!!

!! ALL characters involved are ADULTS ; NO minor characters!!

incest; heat; belly bulge; omegaverse; alpha!itachi; omega!reader; brosis; sibling incest; claiming bite; heat sex;

wow 2.2k words... this sorta turned into a beast of a fic

Heat

It was one of those pleasant rare moments when the oldest Uchiha siblings could spend time together. Sasuke was gone on a week-long training camp with Team 7, their mother was away on a diplomatic mission, and their father was spending more and more hours at the police force head quarters.

Itachi, the firstborn and the alpha, and his younger sister were left to their own devices, although both siblings loved to take the chance to just chat and hang around. After just having completed a long mission, Itachi was allowed some rest period, and he was content to hang out with his sister. The second-born Uchiha on the other hand, happily readjusted her plans to fit around just living in domestic bliss with her older brother.

One day, Itachi couldn't really muster the energy to get out of bed. It wasn't common for him to be lethargic, but he assumed it was okay to sleep in one day. No harm in that, right?

Being the caring sister she was, the omega didn't go to check on him when he wasn't already the backyard working out when she came down in the morning. But by the time noon rolled around, when there was still no sign of life coming from his room, she gave up on giving him space and went to his room. She was worried!

When there was no response to her knock, she creaked the door open and slipped inside. Itachi lay in bed, his breathing was deep and a bit laboured, his forehead clammy. She approached the bed, wincing upon the sweat-soaked, shivering form of her brother, and reached out to touch his sweaty forehead. Despite somewhat expecting the heat, she yanked her hand back with a hiss.

As she rushed out of the room to get a cool bucket of water and some hand towels, she tried not to berate herself for having left him unchecked for so long. She put on some soup, leaving it on low heat so it would be ready by the time he awakes.

That done, the omega returned to the room with the required items and perched next to him on the bed. She soaked the towels in the cold water and took one out, wringing the excess water out of it. As she placed it on Itachi's burning forehead, her worried gaze met his tired one.

"Poor aniki... You're running a high fever," she said, stroking his face as he hummed quietly.

"I would've been fine after a day's rest, sweet sister," he said, but his voice cracked from lack of use.

The omega clicked her tongue and shushed him, replacing the now-warm towel with a fresh cold one.

"Just let me help. Don't be stubborn."

XXX

Later, when his temperature had cooled down enough and he was able to sit up in bed, his sister quickly left to fetch the soup. She brought it on a tray, along with breadsticks, a tablet for the fever, and a tall glass of water.

They sat in companionable silence as the omega slowly fed her older brother the soup, occasionally dipping the breadsticks into it to give him something more solid to munch on.

As soon as he'd finished the soup, she gave him the medicine, which he downed with the remaining water.

"Thank you, dear," he sighed, voice stronger now, as she stood up, leaning down to grab the tray off his lap and pressing a kiss his forehead in the process.

"Please, don't be ridiculous, aniki. Who else would've taken care of you?" she said with a huff, but immediately grinned at him when he raised an elegant eyebrow.

"I'll check in on you later. Just call me if you need anything," she said, placing a few of his favourite books beside him on the bed before taking her leave.

XXX

True to her word, she finished up some tasks that needed doing, and went to check up on Itachi the moment she returned home.

It was later in the day, and the sunlight streaming in from his window wasn't doing much to light up the room. The omega didn't want to turn on the light in his room in case it disturbed his sleep, but approached his bed anyway, and checked his temperature.

Itachi was burning up again. Way worse than in the afternoon. She frowned, thinking she should have taken him to the hospital to start with!

As she started to move away, a vicelike grip tightened around her wrist. It felt like the heat from Itachi's skin was searing her. She yelped, trying to snatch her wrist away before she even realized what was happening.

The grip simply tightened and she was yanked down.

Only as she was sprawled over Itachi's body burning with fever did she realize that her brother must be awake. That, or he must be having a nightmare.

"Itachi?" she called out, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

Instead of a verbal response, she was rewarded with his face burying into the crook of her neck as he inhaled her scent deeply. She made a strangled sound as he started nosing at her scent gland, making her body react to the maddening touch. His arms gripped her tightly against him, her squirming seemingly feeding in to his desire.

"Y-You're in heat-!" she said uselessly as the realization hit her, her own senses being invaded by the overpowering mix of his own scent and heat addled pheromones.

"Mine," he grunted against the skin of her neck, before licking a burning stripe from the nape of her neck to her jaw.

She shuddered in his hold, her body shaking with need, reacting to his touches and alpha pheromones, too busy trying to shake off her desire to hear his words.

The world seemed to tip at the edge, and then her back bounced off his mattress before her vision was filled with her older brother hovering over her. His eyes were glowing red, the sharingan having spun out of control, and his fangs were on display as he panted, slack jawed.

Time seemed to be still for a long moment, and then his clawed hands were ripping at her clothes, slicing into them as if scissors into paper. The omega gasped in sock at the precise slicing. His sharpened claws could have easily sliced into her supple skin, but she didn't have a scratch to show for it. Her large breasts heaved as she attempted to catch her breath, her legs trembling where Itachi had held them open to crawl between them, as her pretty clothes surrounded her in tatters on the mattress.

His hands twitched on her waist, as if he was trying to hold his alpha back, but the omega could see in his vacant expression that her brother was losing. The alpha had taken over, and it would get what it wanted.

Even as she slid her legs open wider in invitation, she could not believe what she was doing. She wasn't the one in heat, but the eldest Uchiha's pheromones were pushing her to the edge, drawing her omega out.

And all her omega wanted was to please the alpha, to be owned and feel complete.

He hadn't even touched her, and her cunt was throbbing with need, slick and wet from the need to be filled. Itachi's nose twitched, a hungry smirk pulling at his lips as he no doubt caught the scent of her wetness.

He raised a hand, bringing it down with wet plap as she smacked her wet folds. Y/N's mouth dropped open, a loud groan spilling from her lips as her cunt throbbed for more even as Itachi pulled his hand away to lick and sniff at her wet juices covering his palm.

"P-Please, aniki," she couldn't help but plead, knowing in the back of her mind that she should feel pathetic for begging like this, but at the same time, not giving a damn right now.

She must have been too distracted in her desperation, mind too hazy seeking for pleasure, because her gaze widened at the sight of his fat, gloriously long cock as it filled her vision. When had he undressed?

Not that it mattered. She just needed him in her sopping, needy pussy right now.

As if on the same page as her, Itachi pulled her leg over his shoulder, making her cunt stretch prettily, before lining the thick, mushroomed head of his cock to her lips. He didn't wait, didn't care about meeting her gaze as he pushed in, eyes glued to his fat cock stretching her needy little whole; watching it twitch and throb to accommodate him, too greedy to push him out.

His eyes closed, he gripped her hips, his nails digging into her soft flesh, as he slammed in past the barely-there resistance thanks to how wet her cunt was, burying himself to the hilt with a groan, his balls slapping her ass. His sister was a mess, under him, babbling and making soft sounds, her pussy fluttering prettily around his fat girth.

He knelt between her legs, knees digging into the mattress on either side of her waist as he repositioned her to hike her hips onto his lap. The alpha grunted as she continued to babble, wrapping her leg loosely around his waist before adjusting the other one back onto his shoulder. With her practically bent into half, he pounded into her slowly, his cock twitching at the sight of his thick cock filling her, stretching her out over and over.

The omega was a mewling mess, writhing under him, her back arching with each thrust as he picked up the pace. Feeling his mouth water at the sight of her massive tits bouncing with his each movement, he removed a hand from her trim waist to cup and grope her soft breasts. As she moaned, asking for more, Itachi groaned upon noticing the bulge his cock made in her belly each time he plunged in, seeming to hit deeper upon each hit from this angle. His alpha roared at the sight, becoming more needy, screaming to claim her now.

Unable to hold back anymore, Itachi once again gave in to his alpha, leaning down to hover over his sweet sister, feeling his cock bury deeper into her, and kissed her, licking into her slack mouth. When he pulled away, he saw the dazed look in her eyes, her lips slick with their drool, and the sigh made him throb, wanting to paint her walls with his potent seed.

"Fuck," he cursed under his breath, watching her just take everything he had to give, making needy sounds as if asking for more. "It's like you were made to take my cock."

Wasting no more time, he bent his head, slotting his lips over her scent gland, licking the burning skin of her neck before sinking his fangs in.

XXX

The smell of his heat seemed to fill the house, like their mingled scents wanted to announce their mating. Mikoto had been surprised, even flustered at first, right after she'd returned, but soon, like Fugaku, she seemed to come to terms with it pretty quickly, not even bothering to question her eldest children.

While both brother and sister tiptoed around their parents, with the omega going to any lengths to keep her marked neck covered from sight so as not to rub what happened in their parent's faces, they soon realized that perhaps their parents weren't that worried or upset.

"Isn't Sasuke set to return in a couple days?" Mikoto said nonchalantly, breaking the silence at the breakfast table.

Itachi and his sister caught each other's eye before looking curiously at the their mother, while Fugaku sipped his tea.

"Hn. Hatake sent a note. They'll be returning tomorrow afternoon," their father replied, not bothered by the silence from his children.

"Good, good," Mikoto hummed before sipping her tea. "Both of you, be prepared," she continued, flicking her gaze to her kids briefly. "After Sasuke returns, we'll announce your engagement. There will be a formal banquet soon after, so see to it that you're prepared."

Fugaku merely raised an eyebrow as his children gave him wide-eyed looks. He could sense where this was going.

"I-Is this a punishment? We're so sorry, mama, papa," their daughter said, looking guiltily between them. "It's my fault I didn't realize aniki was in heat."

"Little sister," Itachi called out sternly just as Mikoto clicked her tongue.

The older omega set her cup down a bit too hard, before fixing her daughter with a look that meant business.

"Don't you apologize. Never apologize for taking care of your family," she waited till her daughter met her gaze. "The same goes for you," her eyes shifted to Itachi. "These things happen sometimes... It couldn't be avoided this time. But I don't want you hung up over it."

"Your mother's right," Fugaku added, with a stern tone, although his eyes were kind. "Besides, we need to move on quickly and make the best out of this situation. Now that you're bonded, it would be cruel to make other matches for you."

Itachi met his sister's gaze, smiling softly upon seeing her looking more relaxed now, as if their parents words were just what she needed. In all honesty, hearing his father and mother accept and support them really took off a heavy weight from Itachi's shoulders, so he could understand where his sister's relief came from.

"Understood, father," he said. "It is the best course of action."

"We'll be ready," his omega said.

prompt filled for this anon's request

A/N: this was such an interesting scenario! thanks anon and hope you enjoy! also, might return to fix typos whenever i notice them

#itachi uchiha #dark itachi #itachi smut #itachi #tw dark naruto scenarios #naruto scenarios #tw dark content #tw dark themes #minors dni

[holdmytesseract]

Secret Pleasures (18+)

Daryl Dixon x fem!Reader

Summary: You and Daryl are caught up in a secret love affair. Due to the war with Negan and Saviors, you had to put your daily and nightly adventures on hold. It didn't get better after the war ended, with people and eyes being everywhere and the jobs everybody had to tend to. At some point you couldn't take it anymore, so you schemed a plan to relight this burning fire between you and Daryl...

Set in the beginning of Season 9!

Warnings: veeery suggestive smut - like, really suggestive, light smut, swear words, uhh subby Daryl?

This story is rated 18+!

Word Count: 1,7k

a/n: I am so, so sorry, but I just couldn't help myself. 🙈 I don't even know where this came from... I just watched season nine and listened to music - and boom... 😅 I think I never wrote something so 'dirty', either - for my circumstances! 😳 I don't know if it's good or not, but I hope you guys like it! 😊

Inspired by this song:

(Yep, it was this song, no joke... 😅)

Tagging: @lokisgoodgirl @in-this-minute @thefemininemystiquee

If you want to be tagged as well, let me know, 'cause I am currently thinking about making a taglist for my Daryl stories! 😊

It's not like you didn't know that he was one of the last ones. He always was. Every day. It was something you became aware of very fast. So, you sneaked off from the camp and towards the bridge, climbed a nearby tree - unnoticed and hid yourself; waited for the right time.

As soon as the sun was about to set and everybody - except him and a few Saviors had packed their stuff and went back to the camp, you put your risky plan into action - and oh boy, you gladly took the risk. Silently, you left your hiding place and sneaked over to the man, approaching him like a predator its prey. You were sure to be as quiet as somehow possible and to not step on a twig to make any noise. Although, the sound of the rushing water underneath the not entirely finished bridge would've probably covered any wrong step you made.

To your luck had your target his back towards you, facing the large log pile. You couldn't see what he was doing, but that didn't matter. You had almost made it, but the most difficult part was still ahead of you... Getting his attention. You thought about a few options beforehand, went through a few scenarios in your head - and decided to take the probably 'safest' one: Quick and with the right move. You knew you had to take him by surprise.

When you made it to sneak up to the man, without him noticing, what was a feat itself - usually nobody... absolutely nobody was able to sneak up on him - you put the last part of your sinful plan into action. With a quick move, you grabbed his arm with both hands and spun the usually way too strong and bulky man around to face you, before you quickly slapped your hand over his mouth and pressed him against the log pile. You were right. You really caught him by surprise. His eyes were wide, almost at the size of plates and his breathing was laboured. This, in return saved your ass, 'cause if your plan would've gone the wrong way, it was more than likely that you would lay on the cold, hard ground now with a knife stuck in your head or chest. The man had a murderous glint in his eyes, ready to kill, whoever 'attacked' him from behind - but when he realised that it was you, the look faded. It was the sign for you to remove your hand from his mouth, but not before signalling him to be quiet; putting your pointer finger on your lips.

"What the hell, Y/N!" Daryl whisper-shouted. "What ya doin' here?! Approachin' me from behind! What were ya thinkin'?! I could've killed-" You had already enough of the archer's talking. You weren't here to talk. After all, you could talk to him all day long, but what was on your mind couldn't be done all day long. So, you grabbed him by the lapels of his black shirt and yanked him forwards, letting your lips crash into his. He was clearly taken aback by your sudden assault at first, but quickly melted into the sinful kiss you had pulled him into. Daryl's hands flew up to grab your hips, while you placed your palms on his chest and pushed him backwards again, so that you had him pinned against the log pile once more. A soft grunt left his mouth when his back hit the wood, driving you even wilder. You let your tongue trace his kiss swollen lips, begging for entrance. The archer was, of course already putty in your hands, granting your wish.

It had been ages since you were able to kiss him like that and to share an intimate moment with your secret lover. Eyes and ears were everywhere. This wasn't just Alexandria now anymore, oh no. Of course, you were happy and relieved that Rick ended the war and that everybody worked hand in hand now, but that also meant a lot more work and things to do. Especially, it meant more people. The time of sneaking out at nights or meeting him secretly at days for a quick... adventure had clearly run out. You tried to just get along with this and ignore the raging, longing fire in your body, whenever you laid eyes upon him, but it was no use. Seeing him work on that damn bridge, doing all those manly things, with the sweat on his strong, muscular forearms glistening in the summer sun, looking sexier than ever, sent the sheer untamable lust within your body skyrocketing. It was simple... You were an addict - and Daryl was your drug. You needed him, like you needed oxygen to breath. You needed to feel his skin underneath your fingertips. His lips on your lips. You wanted to drown yourself in his intoxicating scent - a mix of cigarettes, gasoline and something earthy.

Without breaking the intimate kiss you shared with Daryl, you decided to bring your hands - which were still resting on his chest, into action and started to undo the first buttons of his shirt. That caused him to freeze in his movements. He reluctantly retreated his tongue from your welcoming mouth and pulled his lips from your lips with a soft pop. "W-What ya doin'?" Daryl panted, completely out of breath from the intense makeout session you had indulged him into. You gave him a smug smile and bit your lip, "What does it look like?" all the while continuing to undo the buttons, slightly scratching your nails over the exposed skin. This caused a low grunt to escape his lips. Putty in your hands. But then the archer quickly shook his head, as to clear his mind and bring him back down to earth. He was visibly fighting with himself to keep a cool head. You didn't plan to let that happen, though. "Nah, Y/N..." Daryl once again shook his head and quickly grasped your hands, stopping them in their action to get him undressed. "Ain't doin' this here. We can't." He literally hissed, looking around. "We ain't alone here… There are still a few of the Saviors around. They will notice!" You raised an eyebrow at him. "So, you don't want this? Me? Haven't you missed our little flings? Seemingly not." You had to tease him a bit, didn't you? "Bloody 'ell, Y/N... 'Course I missed this - you... But don't ya see? It's too risky to do this here!" It was so utterly cute how he tried to be reasonable. A small giggle escaped your lips. Prudence... You had thrown your prudence out of the window a long time ago. You wanted this - and you knew he wanted it too. Did he really think you wouldn't notice the secret longing looks he gave you? Or the way he eyed your curves, practically undressing and eye fucking you? Hell no. Daryl was just as desperate as you were.

Once again you smirked, licking your lips and freeing your hands from his. "Not if you can keep quiet." You whispered seductively in his ear with a wink and ran your fingertips over his strong pecs and abdomen. The archer furrowed his brows at your words. "What do ya- Oh f-fuckin' hell, Y-Y/N..." Daryl had to cut off his own sentence, when one of your hands unbuckled his belt and found its way inside his baggy, black jeans. You noticed how his breath quickened once again. How his Adam's apple bopped, as he threw his head in his neck and swallowed hard. And you noticed how he tried to grip onto the wooden surface behind him, in desperate search for something to hold onto. He looked absolutely beautiful in this state of lust, with his luscious brown hair - which had grown so long over the years, framing his pleasure-streaked face. You smirked to yourself in victory. You had him. You knew it. "I knew you need this, baby... Just as much as I do." He just whimpered in response, still overwhelmed by the sudden pleasure you were giving him. Your smirk even widened. How quickly you had him at your mercy… You couldn't help but lean forward and suck a bruise into the appealing skin of his neck, grazing his stubble with your lips, causing another, but much louder groan to leave his throat. "Shhh, baby." The warning came too late.

Steps approached you - clearly audibly, because of the grass and wooden ground. "Daryl?" A male voice called out from the other side of the log pile. "You alright, man?" You froze in your movements, but kept your hand inside his jeans and placed again a finger on your lips. He swallowed hard, tried desperately to keep himself together. "Y-Yes!" Daryl answered, immediately clearing his throat. "I just stubbed my toe! It's gettin' too dark, ain't seein' a shit!" "Yeah, you're right! We should probably pack our stuff and head back to the camp!" "Yeah!" Another smirk grazed your lips, when you realised that the other men were about to head back. Needless to say, you picked up, where you left, making Daryl suppress a moan. "You coming, too?" You could tell that your lover was getting annoyed by the endless questioning of the Savior. "Later!" Unfortunately, the man was seemingly too curious for his own good. "What?" He stated with a chuckle. "Do you want to keep on working or what?" Daryl rolled his eyes, hands clenching to fists - both from pleasure and anger. "Ain't your damn business what I do and don't do! Jus' piss off! Or are ya afraid to walk home alone?!" You could hear the other man huff out a breath. "Calm down, pitbull!" With those words he walked away again, his footsteps fading. "See you later!" A giggle left your lips, when you saw Daryl letting out a relieved breath. You moved to peek carefully around the log pile. You weren't alone yet – it was somehow thrilling. "What's so fun- Ohh..." You didn't want to hear another word leaving his beautiful lips tonight, so you brought the other hand into the game as well. "You are not learning, are you? Seems like I need to teach you a lesson." Daryl's dilated eyes, blown wide with lust met yours. "You need to learn how to stay quiet. We are still not alone. If not, I am afraid this is our last little adventure, out here on the bridge - and we both don't want that, right?" He nodded quickly, unable to form words. "Good..." You gave him another smirk, "Now be a good boy and keep quiet." before you sunk to your knees in front of him, pulling his pants and underwear with you on the way.

#daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon x female reader #daryl dixon x you #daryl dixon x y/n #daryl dixon #twd #norman reedus x reader #the walking dead #the walking dead fanfic #daryl dixon fanfiction #Spotify #daryl dixon smut #daryl dixon x reader smut

[merrilinie]

CW: child birth, miscarriage scare, minor character death

The Knights had wanted to go for a hunt but had chosen to stay out longer than the day long trip after coming across an old Bandit camp. That in itself was not an issue, there were plenty of them around and this was was clearly left a week before at least.

It was the woman tied to a tree by her hands and very obviously pregnant.

Merlin had rushed right over to her, ignoring the others shouting at him that it could be a trap. The others cleared the camp as Merlin examined the woman. By the time they looked back he had freed her and had her lying down with his jacket bunched under her head. He was feeling her stomach with gentle hands, speaking to her in a sweet voice they couldn’t hear. The woman was sobbing, hand clutching Merlin’s wrist as he did his job.

Eventually Gwaine went over, “what can we do?”

None of them had seen Merlin so serious, let alone so professional so all of his orders were followed without any question.

“I need as much water as we can get. Get all the clean blankets and bring them to me, make a barrier around these trees so she can have privacy and give me two bed rolls. Get me something leather for her to bite into.”

Arthur managed to get over his shocked awe enough to rebut, “Merlin, we don’t know who she is. Let’s take her back to the Cast-“

“No.”

Everyone paused at the finality of Merlin’s tone, something he never used on anyone even when Arthur was truely acting foolish.

Merlin sighed, brushing the woman’s hair out of her face, “she doesn’t have time, she’s going into labour now.” The woman lets out a horrified sob, and Merlin coos, “I’ve done hundreds of pregnancies. It’s not ideal, but we can do this. Now, I need you to decide now. If it comes down to it, and it most likely will, do you want me to focus on saving you or your baby?”

The woman doesn’t hesitate, “save my baby, let me die if means my baby lives.”

Merlin nods, but there’s a sadness in his eyes, “you’re malnourished, even if you baby survives… it may not have a good life. You could both die, but you have more chance.”

She shakes her head, “If my baby dies I will join right after. It… it’s all I have, my husband… they killed him.”

The Knights are all shocked, never seeing such a sight or hearing such a discussion, but Merlin doesn’t hesitate. “Alright, then if you do pass, what shall I call this little babe? I think you or you husbands name would be lovely.”

The Knights all sit as far away as they safely can and listen to the sounds of the woman screaming and sobbing, all tensing when it stops and no crying or anything follows. They wait, none of them speaking or looking at the others, too scared to move in case it upsets the careful balance of life taking and giving.

They all relax when they hear a child’s cry, loud and unapologetic.

Dread forms in their stomachs as Merlin emerges with the babe in his arms, the lifeless body of the mother just visible through the makeshift tent, and Merlin covered in blood with a knife in his hand.

He drops it and gives them a smile despite the horror in the air, “Her name is Lila.”

#bbc merlin #merlin emrys #merlin #arthur pendragon

[techn0cel]

The Life of Seung-Hui Cho (1984-2003)

Seung-Hui Cho (who will be referred to as “Cho” from now on) was born in Onyang-dong, (A city in Asan) in Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea.  Cho was the second child of Sung-Tae Cho and Hyang Im Cho and the little brother of Sun-Kyung Cho who was 3 years older than him.

When Cho was 9 months old, Cho developed whooping cough and pneumonia, Cho was later hospitalized and doctors told the Cho family that their son had a hole in his heart. Two years later, doctors conducted cardiac tests to better examine the inside of his heart and from that point on, Cho did not like to be touched. According to Mrs.Cho, he cried a lot and was constantly sick. In Korea, Cho had a couple of friends that he would have playdates with. Cho’s family was very concerned about his extremely introverted personality.

In 1992, The Cho family moved to the United States to pursue educational opportunities for Cho and Sun, They were encouraged by Mr.Cho’s sister who came to the US before them.

Many problems occurred when Mrs.Cho began working outside their home for the first time. -Nobody in the family knew English

-Cho and Sun felt very isolated

-Mr and Mrs Cho began a long period of time of hard labour and extended work hours at dry cleaning businesses

Sun said that Cho seemed more isolated and withdrawn than he was back in Korea and at times they would both be “made fun of”, but she ignored it because she thought “It was just a given”.

In 2 years time, Cho and Sun began to understand, read and write English at school and Korean was still spoken at home, but Cho did not write or read Korean. For the first 6 months in the United States, the Chos lived with family members in Mary-Land and lived in a townhouse for 1 year before moving to Virginia where they lived in an apartment.

Cho was 9 years old and the only known friend he had was a boy who lived next door with whom he went swimming with. Sun and her parents thought Cho seemed to be doing better than he was a few months ago.

Cho was enrolled in a Tae Kwon Do program for awhile, watched TV and played games like “Sonic the Hedgehog” (None of the video games were war games or had any violent themes in them). Cho liked Basketball and had a collection of figurines and remote controlled cars.

When Cho attended Poplar Tree Elementary School, He was enrolled in the ESL (English second language) program as soon as he arrived in the middle of 3rd grade. The Cho family was living in a small apartment. School Teachers indicated Cho would not interact, communicate or participate in group activities but Cho did play with one student during recess.

When Cho was in the 6th grade, Mr and Mrs Cho bought a townhouse next to the school, hoping he could easily commute to his classmates. After the school requested a parent-teacher interview due to Cho not answering any questions in class, Mrs. Cho tried to find friends for Cho and encouraged both Cho and Sun to join the church she attended. Both agreed but there were few children so they lost interest and stopped going to church.

Mrs.Cho’s friends told her to look for another church that had a minister who “helped people with issues like Cho’s.” She visited the church sometimes for 6 months but decided to not follow through with the plan. (Some articles that were written after the shooting claimed the pastor from that same church worked with Cho but Mrs.Cho denied all of those reports) While it is true that Mrs.Cho registered Cho for a 1-week summer basketball camp sponsored by that church, she never sought its help on personal matters.

Cho’s mother had numerous attempts to get Cho to participate in activities and socialize more but eventually, Cho’s parents decided to let Cho “be the way he is” and stopped forcing him to interact with others. Cho never mentioned anything of imaginary friends or any fantasy world. Cho was described as a “very gentle, very tender,” and “good person.”

MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS

In July 1997, Cho’s parents took Cho to the Center for Multi-Cultural Human Services (A mental health services facility that offers treatment and psychological evaluations). They told the specialists of their concern about Cho’s social isolation and lack of willing to talk about his feelings.

Cho’s parents had to take turns leaving work early to drive him to the centre. They started with a Korean counselor but began working with another specialist who had special training in art therapy (which was perfect for Cho because his communication skills were poor). At every session, The specialist offered clay modeling, painting, drawing and a sand table for Cho to choose which one he wanted to do. When Cho chose the clay, He would model houses that had no windows or doors.

When the therapist explained the meaning of Cho’s artwork to him, his eyes would sometimes be filled with tears.

Cho had a psychiatrist who participated in the first meeting with Cho and his parents. Over the next few years, He was diagnosed with SAD (Severe Social Anxiety Disorder). Records sent to Cho’s school (following a release signed by his parents) and the tests administered by mental health professionals evaluated Cho to be a younger person than he was. Cho’s tested IQ was above average.

Cho was still isolating himself in middle school and there was no reported behavioural problems and he was not a violent student at all.

In March 1999 (Cho is now in 8th grade)

His art therapist noticed a change in his behaviour and started becoming more expressive with his artwork. Cho depicted tunnels and caves in his drawings. Cho showed symptoms of depression and his therapist felt the tunnels and caves were concerning and asked him if he had any suicidal or homicidal thoughts. Cho denied having either of those thoughts but his therapist drew up a contract with him spelling out he would never do any harm to himself or to others.

The next month, The Columbine High School shooting occurred and Cho wrote a disturbing paper in English class that said Cho “wanted to repeat Columbine”, which drew quick reaction from his teacher. (Nobody was named in the paper.) The school contacted Cho’s sister b/c she spoke English and told her about what Cho wrote and urged to have Cho evaluated. Sun explained what happened to her parents and Sun joined Cho on his next therapy appointment.

Cho was evaluated in June 1999 by a psychiatrist at the Center for Multicultural Human Services. A doctor diagnosed Cho with “Selective Mutism” and “Major Depression: single episode”. Cho was prescribed “Paroxetine 20 mg” (an antidepressant) that Cho took from June 1999 to July 2000 and it seemed to work since Cho was in a good mood, looked brighter and smiled more. He was off the medication when he improved.

Note: Mr and Mrs Cho were shocked to learn that Cho wrote about violence toward others. They said there were hints at ideas of suicide but nothing about homicide.

CHO AT WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

(Cho began Highschool at Centreville but the following year, Westfield opened and Cho was assigned there for his remaining 3 years)

1 month after classes began at Westfield, one of the teachers that had Cho in their class told the guidance office “Cho’s speech was barely audible and he didn’t respond in complete sentences”. The teacher said he was shy and shut down, there was no communication with teachers or classmates. Cho had high grades, was always on time and submitted well-done homework assignments. His only problem was failure to speak.

The guidance counselors asked him if he ever received mental health or special education beforehand in middle school or in his freshman year, Cho indicated (untruthfully) that he didn’t.

On October 25 2000, Cho’s situation was brought to Westfield’s screening committee for evaluation to determine if he required special education accommodations. Cho was evaluated for the following:

Psychological

Sociological

Educational

Speech/Language

Hearing Screening

Medical

Vision

Cho was encouraged to join a club and stay after school for help from his teachers. He was permitted to eat lunch alone and to provide verbal responses in private sessions rather than infront of the whole class where his accent might be mocked or draw derision from his classmates.

With this change, Cho’s grades improved and had advanced placement and honors classes. Cho’s voice was inaudible in class and would only mumble if pushed. When Cho wrote responses, his thinking seemed confused and his sentence structure wasn’t fluent.

After the shooting, there were some reports that Cho was bullied at Westfield High School. A very specific incident that was reported being Cho’s classmates mocking his accent and telling him “go back to china” which lead Cho to run to the bathroom crying. However Cho’s family said Cho never mentioned bullying (You could argue he never discussed his day to his parents but his guidance counselor had no records of bullying complaints from Cho. It’s very likely he just kept it to himself if the bullying claims are true.)

It’s not unreasonable to believe Cho was subjected to bullying for being different than his classmates but it’s not fully confirmed. The closest things to that is Cho and Sun experiencing harassment to a certain level when they first arrived to the US.

In 11th grade, Cho’s weekly sessions at the mental health center ended because there was a gradual slight improvement as the years went by and he refused to continue and said “There is nothing wrong with me. Why do I have to go?”. Mr and Mrs Cho weren’t happy that he refused to continue treatment, but he was turning 18 the following month and could make his own decisions.

At one point, Cho was asked to write about his hobbies and interests. He wrote:

“I like to listen to talk shows and alternative stations, and I like action movies…My favorite movie is X-Men, favorite actor is Nicolas Cage, favorite book is Night Over Water, favorite band is U2, favorite Team is Portland Trailblazers, favorite food is pizza, and favorite color is green.”

Cho took upper level science and math courses and spent 3-4 hours a day on his homework, Cho received high grades and finished Highschool with a grade point average of 3.52 in an honors program. That GPA with his SAT scores (540 for verbal and 620 for math) were the basis for his acceptance at Virginia Tech university.

Virginia Tech university failed to see the special accommodations that propped up Cho and his excellent grades. The scores showed Cho’s knowledge and intelligence but they didn’t reflect on another component of grades such as class participation.

Cho’s guidance counselor encouraged Cho to attend a small school close to his home where he would have an easier time transitioning to college life. She thought Virginia Tech would be too much for Cho to handle b/c it was too large. Cho was confident in the school he chose and didn’t listen to his counselor so he applied and was accepted.

#Tcc #True Crime #seung hui cho #virginia tech #virginia tech shooting

[anchirayce]

To Behold the Golden Sun Ch. 1

This takes place after the events of BG3. Basically, a smol adventure about Tav and Astarion arriving at Tav's childhood city to search for a way to have Astarion walk in the sun again! Drama ensues!

Rating: T - Sexual themes, strong language

Warnings/Tags: Tiefling racism, alcohol use (responsible, suggestion of misuse), suggestion of non-con, suggestion of child abuse, typical canon violence, slight angst, hurt/comfort, slow burn(I mean it, it's slow), Astarion might be ooc, but hopefully not!

Tav couldn't always run away from his past. He knew this from the moment he started to help Astarion find a way to walk in the sun again. He wanted to stay away, but spurred by another failure, a memory of eld came to him. A whisper of something said, something promising. Hopefully, this little spark of hope was what he and Astarion were looking for.

My Tav:

____

The winter breeze caressed through the thick cloak wrapped around my shoulders. My armour murmured through the silence. And the chill burrowed pleasantly through the heavy metal.

"Is the wind bothering you, my love?" Astarion's smooth voice was almost reverent against the darkness.

"Not quite, it's colder than I expected though." My breath puffed past the thick wool scarf.

“We can camp if you need.”

“No, no.” I said, “it feels nice.” We continued through the snow pack. There was a path, but the fresh blanket covered up the tracks left by the previous travellers. It slowed our pace and I worried that dawn would arrive sooner than anticipated.

For a time we continued in silence, our exertion and the crunching snow being the only audible sound.

“Are you sure this lead is viable?" My love asked, his doubt was understandable. I told him about a lead to cure his vampirism. And he trusted me completely. But I suppose he saw something in me.

It was a very old memory and I'm not sure if it's even true or not. But to spend time with him in the sun again, to have him taste food and walk through water without burning. It would be worth returning to my personal horrors to help Astarion.

“Not, entirely. But it’s better than trying to find that Ring of Sunwalking we chased for a solid three months.” I huffed and Astarion took my hand.

It was near dawn when we arrived. The urgency of finding a place to stay fueled our tired bodies forward. I would have to set up the tent quickly if we couldn't find anything.

The streets were mostly clear of people, those awake paid us no mind either. We still kept our heads low and forever glanced at the sun. We avoided the spots that were becoming exposed. And I blessed the memories of the times I ran through these alleyways.

We made it, with only a few minutes to spare. Hurriedly, I made a show of placing my all too heavy pack on the table. Making it loud enough for the patron to hear through the open window. The sun began to peak above the buildings.

“Can I help you gentlemen?” She asked as she exited.

“Yes, we’re looking for a place to stay. We've been travelling all night. Are you open?” I said, pulling down my scarf so my nose was free.

“We aren't entirely! But please, both of you come in and make yourselves warm! It would be cruel to toss you back into the snow.” I let Astarion go first and we entered the empty hall. It smelled deliciously of roasting meat and porridge. And the sudden change of cold to warmth kissed a shiver through my limbs.

“What made you folks brave the darkness?” The hostess asked as she went behind her counter. "Not many people travel at night. Especially up here."

“We’re on a journey to meet someone. We promised them we would be in the next town over by the end of this tenday.” I lied.

“Oh, my! I suppose a rest is in order then?"

I smiled through my scarf. "That would be lovely, is there a room somewhere quiet? Away from the noise of the tavern? I understand you're closed but I'm willing to trade my services of labour for it. Or some gold.”

“But of course, and I'll just take the gold!" She smiled and opened the ledger. "I'll give you one of the basement rooms, be warned what you find. That room is for…soliciting activities.” I chuckled lightly.

“We'll keep it in mind, thank you.” She handed me a key and I gave her gold.

“Enjoy your stay gentlemen!” We wandered down and into our humbly plain and well kept room. There was a wardrobe, table, and basin of water. As well as everything needed for basic comfort and a fun night hidden in the corners.

“You’re surprisingly quiet.” I mentioned as I locked the door and began to shed my armour. Astarion went to the single foggy window and peered out at the hushed dawn.

“There’s something you’re not telling me?” He replied and took a piece of canvas from our packs.

I heaved a long, weary, sigh and limped sorely to the bed. I hadn't realised how much of a toll pushing through shin-deep snow had put on my body. “Even without the tadpole you can read my mind so clearly. But yes…you're right."

Astarion shed his own elven chain and claimed his spot on my lap. The comfort of our tenday routine took over as I relished in his coolness. The fire of Avernus burned in my blood and no matter how the claws of winter chill dug deep--I was still hot.

“You can't hide anything from me." He quipped and kissed my jaw, his hands lowered as he pulled off my sweaty shirt. His teasing sent shivers through me.

I laid back, leaning my head against his as he bit gently into my flesh. I reached through the hem of his shirt to hold his back and waist, giving him my warmth as I held him.

He hummed and readjusted the position of my head. He moved his grip slowly back to under my neck and embraced my middle with his left. I moved to hold him tight against me. His deep and gentle gulps almost pulled me into sleep.

He sat up when satisfied. And licked the wound clean before I reached clumsily to heal the pinpricks. I opened my eyes, smiling as I regained my conscience.

“Are you alright? Did I take too much?” Astarion asked as he got off of me.

“No…I’m just tired." I said and moved an arm over my eyes. Their heaviness was unbearable. "I’m sorry I haven’t been completely forthwith too. This place makes me nervous.” I felt him lean on his elbow and I hummed delightfully as he stroked a hand through my hair.

“Nonsense, as long as it's not a lie--you may keep as many delicious secrets as you can. Even the juiciest ones.” He placed a hand to my chest and leaned to kiss my forehead. “Rest now, darling. Tell me about it in the afternoon. Or when you're ready.” I drew close to him breathing in the crisp smell of my blood and his scent.

I woke up late, very late. I stretched trying to find Astarion. My hand met his thigh and I stayed there as he weaved his delicately cold fingers through mine. I turned onto my stomach trying to squeeze out just an hour more. I rested until I heard Astarion speak.

“Darling, as much as I adore being in bed with you all day. We are very much in need of supplies. And we need to get them before the shops close.” Astarion said and leaned to kiss my exposed cheek.

I whined low, and before he could leave I sprang up and grabbed his waist, pulling him down into the covers.

“Tav!” He laughed loudly. I leaned over him and kissed him deeply, relishing in the feeling of his touch through my long hair.

“Come now, stop procrastinating.” He rebuked as I buried my nose in his neck, kissing the two scars and his collarbone. I adored the day he allowed me to get this close to him. To kiss and care for his insecurities filled me with only the deepest love.

“We haven’t had a day to ourselves in nearly half a year! Can’t I relish in you for a few more moments?” I asked, nibbling my chosen spot.

“We have too! We’ve been travelling together non-stop!”

“But a bed, Astarion! A warm, slightly lumpy bed!” I rolled over and sprawled.

“How about this?” He began, sitting up. “You--gather supplies and information. And later we could...possibly have a night of passion?”

I grimaced, “I don’t want an exchange.”

“No, not an exchange. Consider it…something to look forward to when you get back, my sweet.” I hummed and sat up.

“I suppose that is better.”

“Good." I managed to find some clean clothes at the bottom of my pack. And stepped out of the cool room once dressed, kissing Astarion as I left.

“Be safe.” He said as he closed and locked the door behind me.

I knew exactly where to go, the markets weren't far from here. The only thing that made me nervous were the guards. I knew most of them from my childhood. Luckily with my scarf and hood I was able to blend in with the crowd. I was glad--for once--that the coloured tips of my horns were the same as a common servant's.

I entered the bustling market--snow had begun to float from the low clouds. I tried to keep a keen ear on gossip and whispers as I weaved through the crowd. But my heart was too loud to focus. I shooed away a beggar. Hurt that I was unable to spare a single coin or morsel of food for them.

I wandered silently, only speaking to the shop owners. Who treated me like I expected. With indifference and annoyance. I found and gathered some rations for myself and other supplies. Such as repair kits and some new tools to replace the ones that broke on the long road.

On my way back I stopped by a booth that filled the cold air with gentle fragrances. Soaps, lotions, and perfumes were on display. And with the last gold I bought a single fragrant bar and bottle of bergamot and lavender scented oil. I hoped Astarion would like this. I ignored the comment from the shop keeper as I bumped into a guardsman.

I knew her, the unmistakable recognition from a childhood friend.

"Tavalin?" She gasped, she knew just from my eyes.

Panic broke through my shock and swirling emotions. "You're mistaken, guardsmen." I cleared my throat and pulled away. "Have a good day." She followed, and was good enough to keep up.

But with a murmur, I was able to pull myself away with a well-timed misty step. With a long inhale I pulled myself together and entered the tavern.

I tapped my knuckle against our door. And waited a moment for Astarion to respond.

“Welcome back.” He smiled mischievously.

“I was gone for an hour.” I smiled and glanced at his form. Taking in his half-nakedness.

“A promise is a promise.” He hummed as he kissed me deeply, gracing his fingers on my chest as he pulled me inside by the waistband. I laughed and gently dropped my pack to the ground as he hopped up and wrapped his legs around my waist. He hesitated before kissing me again. He must have felt my heart racing. I placed my hand against his, smiling through my anxiety.

“Can you sit with me? I’m not really up for sex.” I said as I set him down.

“Whatever your heart desires, my sweet.” He laid beside me. Studying my features to see why I was hurting.

I sank lower and embraced him, resting against my pounding heart and heavy breath. “Tav…?” I hummed. “Are you going to tell me why you’re so nervous?”

I took a moment to think. Trying to find a way to tell him. “I met someone. From my past, she recognised me.”

"Do you think she followed?" I shrugged.

“I remember something from my childhood. A tome or conversation. Something about a scroll, or item. I remember being caught, and--something happened. It isn't clear. I remember gold, so much gold. Like the colour."

“And where was this?"

"I don't know. It might have been the mansion on top of the hill. If we are to go, then I have to be careful. If we’re caught, I’ll--be taken. Back there…"

He waited for a response. “It’s--It’s dark, it smells like death and vomit. Everyone is in one room, it's so cold and lonely, yet so cramped. My parents were forced to have me." It spilled loose, and memories were burning through. "They hated me, my mother wanted nothing to do with me. My father saw me as his personal target--!'' I swallowed back a gasp. But my inhale itself seemed to bring the memories back vividly.

I suddenly sat up, trying to get away from Astarion’s touch, it was like fire. “I’m sorry.” I leaned against my knees. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. You shouldn't be concerned by this! I--”

“Tav, stop.” Astarion kneeled not touching me as I clawed my pants, “breathe, my love.” I shakily inhaled and felt my panicking heart ease. I reached out and he grabbed my hands. I tried not to squeeze my talons into his soft flesh.

“I have you Tav. And you don’t have to say anything. You can stop. But I wish you did concern me with this. I'm as much a part of your life as you are in mine. Your past included.”

I shook my head bringing his hands to the base of my horns. “It's been two years, I should be over this!” I hissed.

“No. This doesn't just vanish. I know you understand this." Astarion retorted, he leaned on my legs. Adjusting my chin so he could cup my cheek. “You’ve helped so many people overcome their darkness. You’ve always put them before you. You’ve had no time to think about what has happened to you, and it's not right. So please. For once in your life--be selfish and focus on coming to peace.” Tears began to fall from my eyes, something I haven’t done in so long.

A lifetime and two years of pent up anger, sadness, and fear seemed to break free. It hurt, having him see me so weak, I was his support. I couldn't be like this, but I couldn't help it either. Being here, meeting someone from my past so suddenly. Having the idea of going back. It was too much.

"There we are, let it out…" Astarion soothed and when I reached for an embrace he stood and squeezed me tightly. Whispering affirmations.

“How did you do this so elegantly? I feel like a fool." I mumbled against his chest.

Astarion chuckled dryly. "Elegantly?" He scoffed, "you forget how shaken I was when I stabbed Cazador to death." He thumbed away my tears. "I hate how you kept helping others with their problems. I knew this was going to accumulate into something."

I huffed, his truth stung. "I prefer helping other people, it's easier to be there for them. This makes me want to run away.” I flinched as Astarion moved, his legs were probably numb.

"I'm sorry you can sit on the bed." He glanced at me with a disapproving grimace. Mentioning he didn't want me to apologise.

I didn't look at him as he slowly replaced his hand on mine. "I know you want to, but you can't just deny what has happened to you Tav."

"It's so much easier." I choked out.

"Tell me why?" He tried. I looked away from his eyes, shaking my head. I wanted to tell him, but I just couldn’t.

"Well, if that's the case, and you want to. We'll ignore it until you're ready and focus on my own selfish needs." Astarion said, kissing my knuckles. I chuckled and wiped my eyes.

“Oh, joyous day! My one true love is enabling my wicked vices!” His laugh was light as I dramatically gestured and fell back onto the bed.

He reached and stroked a finger on my chin, his soft grin comforting as he leaned to place his forehead on mine.

"We'll--" Both of us sat up, staring at the sharp knock from the door.

Astarion and I quickly stood and waited, then there was another knock. We pulled on our armour as quickly and quietly as possible. I opened the door and peered out, hoping it wasn't githyanki assassins.

"Tavalin?" It was Rowen, the guardsman.

"There is no one here by that name." I glared at her. Studying her unchanged features.

"Darling, come back to bed! Whoever is at the door can wait!" Astarion's acting startled me.

"Oh Selune, I am so sorry!" She gasped. "Enjoy your night!" I closed the door.

"We need to leave. Now." I whispered.

"Right behind you, love." Astarion already had our packs on his shoulder. I took the last step into the lobby and was greeted with:

"Wait! Stop!" My own impatience was palpable. We should've waited.

We rushed to the door weaving through the crowd of curious individuals. But some tavern patrons immediately stood to block us. I gripped Astarion's hand tightly, turning back to Rowen.

"I need to speak to you!" She waved at the people behind us.

"Why?" My voice shook with my beating heart. The patrons looked down on me, they didn't appreciate having me answer.

"I need to speak with you. Come, follow me. You're not under arrest." I looked at Astarion through his black hood. He nodded curtly and we followed Rowen out into the chill. We warily paced ourselves and stopped when she did.

"We can kill her." Astarion offered. I didn't realise I was in a trance.

"No...I-I don't think that's a good idea."

"Are you okay?" Astarion glanced back at Rowen who had stepped into her home.

"I don't know." I managed through a chokehold of fear and regrets.

"We can leave--" He started pulling me away. It was mainly to get off the road so he could speak privately. "There will be more opportunities."

“No. Just stay with me. Please don’t leave.”

“I wouldn't dream of it.”

“Thank you…I’ll be okay with you here.” I thumbed his cheek and hugged him tightly. He returned the squeeze, the enchanted metal of our armour bending with the embrace. He didn’t let go until I did.

We addressed Rowen at the threshold of her home. “Come in, we have much to discuss.” She sighed and began to peel off her chainmail and leathers.

Astarion and I placed our packs down and waited for her to settle. “Please, sit.” She offered her table.

“Could I get you two anything?” She asked. “I have water and gallons of wine.”

“Wine would be nice.” I replied, not taking my scarf and hood off. Astarion didn't either.

She set a mug down and looked at my love. “Do you need anything?”

“No thank you, darling.” Astarion replied as he was already reaching for my cup. I set it closer to him and waited for him to take a drink. He hissed at the taste as I took a long familiar swig. It burned and was tart, I loved the taste. Even in my youth the blueberries and mushrooms mixed well together. And made a great way to get easily pissed to talk about trauma.

Rowen collapsed against the chair, the wood groaning for her as she spoke. Rowen hadn't changed, or at least tried not to. She was an older human, short wavy hair puffed around her dark skin and pale blue eyes studied the oddness of us. She wore a simple stained and worn tunic.

"Would both of you kindly remove your hoods?" Her threat didn't go unnoticed as she pulled a hunting knife from her boot and placed it on the table.

I un-clipped the hood from my horns and pulled away my scarf. Astarion was slightly more hesitant. But eventually pulled off and folded his scarf on his lap.

"You came back…" Rowen sighed, "after everything. Why?"

"It's complicated."

"It better be. Because after everything we did--I did, for you. To have you come back after you escaped, it's just stupid! And just look at your eye too!" She referred to the forced heterochromia. My left eye was hellishly green while my right was considered a normal plain green. Both the scar and changed eye were earned when I escaped this hell. The tadpole healed the wound and I couldn't thank it enough.

"I know it looks bad." I traced it. "But I've grown to like it, Kavek helped with the wound." I took Astarion's hand. "And I came back for this man…" She scoffed and took a drink.

"Seriously Tavalin? You came back for someone else?" She tutted against the tart wine. "Where is my brother?"

"He--" My voice hitched, "he didn't survive the nautiloid."

"What?" She sat up, bewildered.

"Do you know what happened at Baldur’s Gate, two years ago?" I sighed.

"A band of adventurers saved it from an illithid invasion."

"Yes, and it began when Kavek and I were abducted outside of the city…" I told her everything but the deepest secrets.

"Selune save me..." She filled our mugs. "Does this also pertain to why your partner is invisible?" She twirled her knife about, the glimmering metal only reflected her and I.

I looked at him, and beckoned him to speak. "It does, for the most part." He sighed. Taking a drink of wine. "How well can she keep secrets?" Astarion asked me.

"We orchestrated a year-long plan to--” I shook my head. Trying to hide my anxiety through more wine.

I squeezed Astarion’s hand to reassure him and cast sanctuary. "Very well, I am a vampire."

"Ha!" She snorted, lifting her mug in a toast, "and I'm a beholder!"

Rowen took a gulp and realised we were telling the truth. "Oh shit, you're serious!" She burst into a drunken laughter. "You caught yourself the worst of the worst, Tavalin!"

"Oh yes, I am aware.”

“You’ll keep those fangs to yourself right?” She waved her dagger around.

Astarion grinned mischievously. “Ha! I have no care for your blood, Rowen. Hunting is so much work, and why ruin a perfectly good evening stalking? When I have a willing, loving, participant?” He leaned and pulled up my chin to show the faded scars on my neck. I chuckled and took his chin to kiss him.

“You two really love each other, huh?” Rowen asked, almost trying to convince herself. I pulled away and Astarion leaned against the table.

“Madly.” He replied, licking his lips from the nip he gave me.

“I thought vampires couldn’t feel emotion.”

“And I thought humans were only good for sex.”

“Astarion…” I tutted.

“What? It’s true.”

“You know it’s not. And how about we try to make friends instead of foes? Hm?” He scoffed, rolling his eyes.

“I suppose you make a point.”

“Rowen, we’re looking for a cure for vampirism. We need your help getting into the library. Or at least, I do.” She leaned back and scratched her scalp. Taking her time to think, I couldn’t blame her. I was asking something impossible of someone who I haven’t seen in years.

“You want to go straight to the worst place for you. To look for something that might not even exist, for a man who has insulted me?” She filled her cup and gulped the whole mug. “I’m in. For my brother. He would want you to be happy. Even if your partner is a sharp-tongued idiot.”

"It's called cunning wit, darling.”

She chuckled, “when do we start?”

“Astarion has to follow vampire rules now. No mirrors, no sun, no running water, no entering homes without permission.” I held up my hand to stop her question, “the tadpole stopped the worst of it.” I took a breath and leaned back moving my arm over Astarion, he sighed against me staring at the cup we shared.

“We would rather be together, but if I have to go alone. I will.”

"That is not going to happen.” Rowen said, she smirked and motioned her head towards my love. “Your little vampire might quip me to death if I don’t.”

“Is that an invitation?” Astarion mused.

“It’s a challenge.”

“Ooh, even better!” He smirked.

“I have an idea of what to do. But my head hurts, and I need to sleep." She pushed herself up. "Come, let me show you to your room and then we will start our plan tomorrow.” I took the rest of the wine in a single gulp. Astarion fetched our packs. And we followed Rowen to Kavek’s room. My wine-addled brain felt nothing, but my hands clenched as I walked into the room.

“I’ll leave you two to rest. I have guard-duty from dawn to afternoon. I’ll come fetch you around then, Tavalin.”

“Thank you, Rowen. Honestly.”

“It’s good to see you.” She grinned and closed the door.

Chapter Two: Here

#bg3 tav #astarion #astarion x tav #astarion x mc #slow burn #established relationship #hurt/comfort #slight angst #astarion x male tav #spawn astarion #bg3

[hyenahunt]

Obbligato: The Devotion to Tatsumi Kazehaya - 5

Writer: Akira

Season: Spring, three years ago

Characters: Jun, Kaname, Tatsumi

Proofreading: Remi + 310mc (JP) & honeyspades (ENG)

Translation: Peace & hyenahunt

Jun: Hah! So you mean we all have no chance of success and just get to spend our lives getting bossed around like slaves, huh? Reimei Academy's fucking incredible!

Location: Reimei Academy's Labour Camp

Time: Evening, that day.

Jun: Hmm... So basically, this guy isn't a Special Student anymore?

Kaname: .....

Jun: Some scandal happened during the filming of a movie or a show, and he either pissed off or got on the wrong side of the higher-ups, and he lost his role...

Kaname: .....

Jun: So going along with what the bigshots wanted, Reimei Academy temporarily stripped HiMERU of his Special Student title.

And now he's so sad and upset about it he went nuts and had a little cryfest in here just now. That's the long and short of it, huh, Kazehaya-senpai?

Tatsumi: Yes. While HiMERU-san hasn’t told me what happened exactly, I've more or less grasped the situation due to various things I've heard from others.

In any case, it feels as if there's been a high level of damage control about what's going on, so it's hard to understand what happened exactly.

All that is clear is that, yes, HiMERU-san did something which caused the temporary loss of his Special Student title.

As such, he has also been stripped of the private quarters given to those with such privilege, and thus has found himself within the walls of this Labour Camp instead.

Jun: This is the first time I've ever heard of a Special Student losing their title... What exactly did he even do? Did he deck some bigwig in the face or something~?

Tatsumi: I wonder... It's only natural that this is all that the students know. However, the teachers' knowledge regarding it is limited as well.

On the other hand, I've been fielding non-stop questions myself, all of which ask the very same thing: What did HiMERU-san even do?

As it stands, I have no way to answer them.

From the reaction of the public, it would seem that HiMERU-san did something that was strictly taboo in the entertainment world.

Jun: Tattoo?

Tatsumi: Taboo. In other words, something prohibited by social norms.

Jun: Your words are kinda goin' over my head, Kazehaya-senpai...

Tatsumi: My apologies. While I strive to do what I can to make my words understandable... if they're unable to reach you, then they're no better than the cry of an animal.

Jun: Well, I've more or less gotten the gist of it, at least~ To sum it up, HiMERU basically went and did some shit he really shouldn't have done, huh?

Tatsumi: That is my own personal theory, yes.

Jun: If that's what happened outta the blue, you've got me curious, y'know. What exactly didja do, HiMERU?

C'mon, I'll keep it a secret if ya tell me, y'know? How'd ya make the higher-ups totally lose it?

I don't wanna make the same mistake and set them off, so you oughta share all that info with the class, yeah?

Kaname: .....

Please refrain from speaking to me so casually. You'll infect me with your Non-Special Student cooties.

I'm not a good-for-nothing idiot like the rest of you.

Jun: 'Scuse me? Literally in what way are we different? We're both at the very bottom of the barrel, aren't we? We're sitting in the same Labour Camp wearing the same jersey and eating the same shitty food, in case ya haven't noticed!

Tatsumi: Is my food truly so disgusting...?

Jun: Ah— I only mean that as a figure of speech! Kazehaya-senpai, your cooking's the best, for real! I meant to say it was stinky, not shitty, kinda like the stuff you'd eat in a prison!

Tatsumi: Haha. If this were prison, then you all would be released so long as you remained patient enough to fulfill the labor asked of you. At the end of it all, you would be allowed to live in the same brilliantly shining world that the Special Students do.

Jun: Real life's nothing like that, though~ The walls here are so high that if you were to fall even once, you'd spend the rest of your life tryna climb back up.

Tatsumi: You mustn't lose hope, Jun-san. So long as you believe in such a world and work hard towards it, then one day you will be rewarded.

... Though, it isn't as if Reimei Academy's structure makes it particularly welcome to such sentiments.

HiMERU-san losing his rights as a Special Student is unusual, however. Nor have I ever heard of anyone becoming a Special Student if they were not already enrolled as one.

Jun: Hah! So you mean we all have no chance of success and just get to spend our lives getting bossed around like slaves, huh? Reimei Academy's fucking incredible!

Well, maybe that's just how it is in actual corporate life, too. You know, born a nobody and die a nobody and all that.

Tatsumi: Now, now, don't sulk... You're still young, Jun-san. You should look to the future with bright eyes, towards the hope that lies aplenty before you.

Jun: Hey, you're young too, Kazehaya-senpai. What's up with your old man act?

Actually, in your case I should say you act all mature, huh? You're always so calm and reliable~ No one would think you're only a year older than me.

Tatsumi: Is that so? Perhaps I’ve spent so much time around the elderly that I’ve begun to act like them too.

Oh, dear... I just remembered, I must leave for the catacombs soon.

Jun: Not again. You went last night and didn't come back 'til this morning, didn'tcha?

Tatsumi: Haha. As the one who founded them, it is only right that I take care of them, isn't it?

If ever you are interested in dropping by, Jun-san, please do so. And bring HiMERU-san as well, if possible.

Jun: What? Why him?

Dude, wasn't he sitting on top of ya with his hands 'round your neck when I came in?

If anything, I'd rather chase a dangerous guy like him right outta here, y'know?

Tatsumi: It was merely an accident, that's all. HiMERU-san happened to fall, and my body was there to catch him. Isn't that right?

Kaname: .....

Tatsumi: If it was done with ill intent in mind, I forgive you. I don't mind what happened one bit, but if possible I'd like to get along with you from here on out, HiMERU-san.

Kaname: .....

Tatsumi: Haha. Now then, I'll be off. ♪

♪~♪~♪

Jun: (Welp, there he goes... Kazehaya-senpai's as mysterious as ever — to this day I still can't tell what he's thinking.)

(And HiMERU feels like a ticking time bomb himself... Ugh, I feel like even more weird shit's gonna happen again.)

Jun: (All the same, I guess I'd prefer this to the usual daily routine of doing nothing but soul-crushing chores.)

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#enstars #ensemble stars #enstars translation #jun sazanami #kaname tojo #tatsumi kazehaya #s: obbligato #hyenahunttl

[deafknell]

For reasons and stuff I need Ricardo information. So I ain't wasting this chance. For the Ask i choose Ricardo. Gimme the Ricardo

Sexuality/Gender/Ship Headcanon: Honestly, I have nothing for most of these - completely valid for people who do hold these - but Ricardo to me is just a caring dad. I don't have a ship for him.

A BROTP I have with said character: Ohhh boy. Toxic brotp would be him and Reisel, the way it instantly goes from "Hey Ricardo's just a goofy dad raising Ana and the triplets" to "Okay we need more side content on his backstory immediately" is so good. Everything about Reisel is a red flag and yet still Ricardo chooses to nearly jeopardise his position working with Ana over an old debt owed to him.

Ricardo and the bar lady in Kararagi Girl Meets Cats/Kararagi Girl and Cats Eye have a pretty cute bond as Ana's parent figures. The bar lady is basically Anastasia's former employer who took care of her as a young kid, and she regularly talks to Ricardo about being a good role model for her. He seems to value her opinion a fair amount, but also insists on her keeping his involvement with Reisel private.

A NOTP I have with said character: Ana/Ricardo. I know it's said Ricardo was her first love, but it's just a childhood crush type thing. They met when Ana's 10-11 years old and Ricardo basically raised her.

A random headcanon: Ricardo isn't the best with tact or talking to girls, but he went out of his way to learn how to braid/do different hairstyles for Ana. I imagine the bar lady taught him so he could fix up Ana's hair when she started growing it out properly, something she then learned and did with Mimi when she grew up.

General Opinion over said character: He's 10000% team dad. Massive softie with a heavy backstory often left to the side because of his father-daughter bond with Ana in her backstory. People know she bought him out of slavery, but there's very little discussion on what actually happened to him before then.

Since you requested Ricardo information, I'll give a rundown of what exactly happened before he met Ana (From Kararagi Girl & Cat's Eye):

[Content warning for discussion of slavery/torture/abuse]

Ricardo was somebody who regularly rebelled against the slave owners and frequently angered the guards at the camp. He was often targeted and beaten for very trivial reasons solely because certain guard really didn't like the fact he had such a strong fighting spirit despite his circumstances.

For over two months each beating grew worse and worse, wounds overlapping and he was fully prepared to die during this time. But one day Reisel, a tanuki beastman looked in his cell and saw him still alive, came to visit him and spoke to him a bit. Because he was well known and liked by guards, a connection was made between Ricardo and Reisel, so the abuse towards Ricardo was lightened instantly.

There was still the threat of death, starvation, and hard labour, but Reisel's interference saved his life. Reisel admits he only interfered as he wanted some "muscle" to protect him in the camp, and Ricardo acknowledges this, feeling indebted while still disliking the guy for seeming quite two faced.

This hunch turns out to be true, as Reisel later organises a successful escape with a bunch of slaves. He does not invite Ricardo, and Ricardo is later tortured and left half-dead for that very association that saved his life previously. Ricardo endured through everything, never losing that spirit, and eventually became a free man after meeting Anastasia.

Later, when reunited with Reisel, Ricardo admits he knew Reisel leaving him behind was a calculated move to ensure the guards went after him and not Reisel. Despite knowing this, he still willingly honours his debt to Reisel, helping him with stealing cargo (later revealed to be on Capella's orders, as Reisel is one of her children.)

[Lore dump end]

There's a lot you can say about Ricardo, both in his appearances in arc 5, and his backstory with Ana. He's a very resilient character who puts up with a lot of shit, but never forgets his debts - someone both cold (only willing to help if given ample reason as a merc) and warm (never lets his burdens fall on others, keeps that positive slant on any interactions, rescues Ana from slave traders) that you have to wonder how exactly he got to the point he's at.

I haven't finished Cat's eye yet - maybe about a third done? - But there's a lot of questions I have about who he was prior to being a slave, and I'm not sure there's any concrete answers yet for them. Where was he prior to slavery? How long was he a slave? He's 39/40 in canon now, so would've been 30 when freed as a slave - what childhood did he have, his family life, it's all a bunch of ??? that's a lot of free real estate for interpretations.

Very fascinating character that needs a lot more love. Think a lot of people shy away from discussing him due to him being a "furry" but it's a real shame to neglect one of the coolest characters and best dad in the series, aside from Kenichi. I think there's a ton you can do with him given the right prompt and enough lore knowledge.

Hopefully this helped :D if you want more Ricardo or minor character info I'm happy to go in more depth/give more sources for info, being a lore nerd about the Ana camp is my main role in this here fandom.

#ask #ricardo welkin #rezero #Very good character its a shame hes associated with a certain infamous person on rz twitter #This one is loooong but I really wanted to highlight his dynamic with Reisel #Theyre so toxic to each other I want to read more immediately #Though Ive been putting off reading more cats eye thanks to the new zelda taking up all my free time haha

[stephensmithuk]

The Golden Pince-Nez

This is the tenth story from The Return of Sherlock Holmes.

The Legion of Honour is the highest French order of merit, coming in various ranks. It can be awarded to foreigners. The French government would award it in 1998 to all surviving British and American veterans of the First World War who had fought in France, then to all surviving veterans of the 1944 liberation in 2014.

Chatham, now in the Medway unitary authority, sits on the mouth of the River Medway. It was centred around a naval dockyard and associated army barracks at the time. The former closed in 1984 and part of it is now a museum, which is also popular for filming due to its period buildings. The Robert Downey Jr. Holmes films both went there.

Today you will mosty likely have to change trains to get to Chatham from Charing Cross; the town is served by direct services from London Victoria, St. Pancras (via High Speed 1) and Thameslink services via Blackfriars.

The London to Chatham road has been around since Roman times as Watling Street and had already been paved earlier in the century by engineer Thomas Telford, who got a town in Shropshire named after him. It would later become the A2, getting progressively enlarged and with bypasses built along the way, but generally follows the same route.

Klinger points out that Chubb locks had a reputation for being unpickable. Jeremiah Chubb had invented his first lock in 1818 and offered a huge reward to anyone who managed to pick it. It took until 1851 before someone did.

Also from Klinger: Cigarettes had only become a thing in the UK in the 1860s, being brought back after the Crimean War. They were seen as lower-class and undignified by the upper classes.

Professor Coram seems to be smoking 70 cigarettes a day! Klinger mentions doctors were at this point starting to get the idea that was bad for your health, but it wouldn't become accepted widely until it had ended up basically killing the next four British monarchs, all heavy smokers. Elizabeth II was a non-smoker and ordered Philip to give up before marrying her; our current Queen Camilla used to smoke but gave up too at Charles' behest.

Sending prisoners to Siberia for forced labour or general exile had been practiced by Russia since 1754. Convicts would often have to walk all the way before the Trans-Siberian railway was built - with their labour of course. Lenin had already spent three years there himself and Stalin would end up there three times, along with an exile to Arkangelsk, escaping on several occasions to rejoin his revolutionary comrades.

The term "gulag", however, is from the Soviet area, where it was the Russian acronym for "Main Directorate of Correctional Labour Camps" ("Гла́вное управле́ние исправи́тельно-трудовы́х лагере́й").

This does have a rather "ripped from the headlines" feel, considering that terrorism and insurgency was a fairly big deal at this time, including from the Irish nationalist direction.

The Russian Embassy at this time was at Chesham Place in Belgravia - it remained there until 1927.

#letters from watson #sherlock holmes #factoids #history #the golden pince-nez #GOLD

[richardsphere]

Leverage Redemption Log: The Golf Job

Thats Golf with an O not a U. (so its not about BP) its also notably with an F not a D so its not about Hardison returning to learn a lesson on the importance of simplicity in the art of the con either. --- five-hundred and four nails. Thats a large and incredibly specific number of nails (wether hardware or keratin)

Migrant labour, phones and families held hostage. Well our mark at least knows talent when he sees it.

Welcome to America kid, where "upwards mobility" means a sherpa carrying a drunken white man up Mt Everest. --- HURLEY?! I mean i knew you were still around cause Parker mentioned you earlier but to see you is another story.

Breanna is at a coding-camp to get her skills improved. Ok so i know from the TVtropes page of the OG series that there was a korean spin-off, so im assuming that this is a reference to the Korean Spin-off.

But apparently Hurley went from "no longer doing crime" to "I swear im no longer doing crime unless im conned by a hot nun" to "fuck it, if I cant live a life of non-crime i'll at least have someone I trust decide which crimes im doing". --- Golfing trip. Harry loses his ball and stumbles across our Mark. Harry overhears the less-usefull half of the conversation (basically only knows about a "liquidity issue") and witnesses Bao get threatened.

Elliot is at this point so familiar with the whole "busman's holiday" thing that he no longer finds the irony funny anymore.

Ah im starting to realise whats happening. The halloween episode was a "girls night out" and this is the "boys night out" episode. But cause Hardison is only available as a special guest they had to bring in Hurley to avoid working a 2-man crew. Harry's first time having to do an actual B&E himself. Meanwhile elliot is doing his "pretend to be a creepy rich guy oggling the staff who arent paid enough to put up with it" con. (not a fan) Hurley is getting the money by rolling pockets as a server. --- And Harry needs to figure out a password. First two tries fail (both decent guesses) and he knows a third failure will lock him out so he tries Breanna, who is unfortunately unavailable for reasons of coding camp. Oh he's resorted to Social Engineering, taking a leaf out of Sophie's book. Lets see how it plays out for him.

And He's Done It! (Maybe "Imaloser" is a bit on the nose, but it fits the character of "disgruntled IT guy who is sick of these idiots not doing this right")

Something bad enough that Harry's old employers wouldnt be willing to keep it on their servers lest it damage them? Thats bad.

And Harry almost got compromised but quickly pulls the "this is my office" and stealthily distracts her while he removes the pictureframes. He's getting good at this. (but also, he was never bad at it. His first self-made heist was pretty well thought out with exception to the whole "insurance would've covered it" thing.)

little bit more social engineering and he's got access to the paper files (unfortunately he slips and gives himself slightly away, both with his rant on how lawyers are scum and the daughter thing. Yes Saphron has a child but its a baby, not remotely old enough to be someone she'd remind him of) --- Elliot getting confused on the various stupid con-names. (good gag.)

Sophie doing her part of the con in a cameo. (wonder if this is gonna be a repeat of the Girls Night Out Job and next episode lets us see why she's wearnig a moustache in a monastary, but i dont think so)

poor guy's gonna be on hold for hours isnt he... great dart-throw though. Impressive. --- I like Bao's little story about the Golf-club of the Lake. Hurley is trying to reach out but unfortunately, fear is still winning (cause hostages at the nail-salon) --- Harry is taking his understudy on an all-expenses spa-day. Oh she's calling him out earlier then expected (harry is not that good of an actor) but he reaches out and works her on their side.

Greenscreen Parker is rather uncanny valley.

So yeah, he's a human trafficker. --- And we're back to continuity-jokes (thin blue line and that one where he played baseball)

Repeat of Sophie's advice. Ah the magic words... god i hate those. Hurley reverse-engineers the secret to Elliots power: The more Chaos, the better the Elliot.

Little "chaotic Hurley" montage (the keys, thats just low) --- Operation Ultrakaren is a go! And Hurley is going into withdrawal,

Well Harry is definitly undeniably outed to his old company now. (i mean they already suspected, but now Saphron knows)

"shoulda yelled two". a solid 2/2. bows on everything, wrap-up at the theatre.

#leverage #leverage redemption #leverage redemption season 1 #The Golf Job

[andorerso]

sorry but isnt saying they went through the same thing still comparing them. you're saying cassian living with his (bad) mom in his thirties is the same as jyn living in the streets as a child when that's not really true and minimizes her story on top of what this fandom already has. Understanding that they are equal comes with comparison and that's why l'm not okay with Andor saying he had it okay

You're twisting my words, I never said those are the same, it's obviously not. I'm saying their traumas (and trauma in general) are NOT quantifiable for you to measure which is worse. Their stories are way more than just those two things, and Cassian's trauma comes from much worse things than than just "living with his bad mom."

both lost their (biological) parents

both watched at least one parent die

Cassian and the other kids were on their own without adults presumably for years, he was responsible for his sister

he was drugged, kidnapped, separated from his sister who most likely died, forced to adapt to this new world he didn't understand and was scared of, forced to change his name, etc etc

had an emotionally abusive mom

was sent to juvie for three years at only thirteen after witnessing his father's death

was at Mimban

Jyn for her part grew up with soldiers and was a child soldier

was abandoned by Saw at only 16, lived on the streets, forced to adapt and survive on her own

both sent to labour camps to build the death star, their own demise

So what are you trying to prove, that Jyn's trauma is in fact worse and Cassian's is lesser? Congrats on missing the entire point. I think maybe you're the one minimizing Cassian's trauma here. When did Andor say he had it okay? Listen, I'm not the biggest fan of that backstory for him either, as I've mentioned before, but I don't think Andor ever said that. At all.

I'm not saying living with a bad mom vs on the street are the same. I'm saying we shouldn't compare their trauma in general, and that their stories are more than just those two specific things, it's the sum of everything. I'm saying that it isn't normal behavior to look at them and go "she suffered more!" or "he suffered more!"

And as a friend said, no, their traumas are not comparable in the sense they're different but I think they both suffer like hell. So why are we doing this? Really, WHY are you trying to pit them against each other?

Also if you wanna be pedantic, even with the aging up, he wasn't in his 30s but whatever.

#replies #anonymous #anon negativity #discourse #i guess idk feel free to block that tag #i'm not interested in comparing who had it worse #it's a nonsensical argument and they *both* suffered like hell which was my point #im also not interested in this anti-cassian narrative either

[scotianostra]

On October 8th 2012 ,Captain Eric Lomax died aged 93.

Lomax, who was captured at the fall of Singapore in 1942, was among thousands of servicemen who were used as slave labour by the Japanese on the railway. Years later he came to terms with his treatment by meeting his interrogator from torture sessions and writing about his experiences in his book, The Railway Man.

His book was adapted for a movie in which Oscar-winning star Firth plays him in later life, with Jeremy Irvine playing him in his younger days. The Railwayman was one of the landmark books of the 1990s.

The horrific conditions of the prisoners as they built the line, with a terrible loss of life, famously formed the basis of David Lean's 1957 film, The Bridge On The River Kwai.

Lomax endured savage beatings when guards found a radio he had helped to build within his prison camp.

He went on to become a lecturer at Strathclyde University, but was haunted by his treatment and met the interpreter who had interrogated him while he was tortured, Takashi Nagase, after he wrote about his remorse in a book.

Lomax's wife, Patti, contacted Nagase and both men returned to Kanchanaburi to meet in 1993 and eventually became friends, it really shows the measure of the man and his compassion with the forgiveness to the man who must have inflicted many beatings upon him.

Lomax was born on 30th May 1919 in Edinburgh and was a Royal Signals officer attached to the 5th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. He was commissioned into the Royal Corps of Signals in 1940 and was a lieutenant when he was captured by the Japanese at the fall of Singapore.

In 1945, Lomax returned to Edinburgh following three and half years of interrogation and torture. He was awarded the Efficiency Medal (Militia) in 1949 and was granted the honorary rank of captain.

Lomax wrote about his experiences during the war and his reconciliation with one of his former torturers on the The Forgiveness Project website, which is a  charity that explores how reconciliation can be used to help people's lives.

Captain Lomax wrote: "After my retirement in 1982, I started searching for information about what had happened in Siam. The need to know is powerful. In the course of my search I learnt that Nagase Takashi – my interrogator and torturer – had offered to help others with information.”

"I learnt that he was still alive, active in charitable works, and that he had built a Buddhist temple. I was sceptical. I couldn't believe in the notion of Japanese repentance. I strongly suspected that if I were to meet him I'd put my hands round his neck and do him in.”

"After our meeting I felt I'd come to some kind of peace and resolution. Forgiveness is possible when someone is ready to accept forgiveness. Some time the hating has to stop."

#Scotland #scottish #soldier #prisoner of war #japanese prisoner #Saim #burma #world war two #forgiveness #history

[mariacallous]

When Eli Rosenbaum was hunting Nazis hiding in America, the most he could do was deport them, but he says the US is now poised to change its laws so that he will be able to prosecute Russians responsible for war crimes in Ukraine.

Rosenbaum, who spent much of the past 40 years leading the US government’s pursuit of Nazis, has been appointed as the head of the justice department’s War Crimes Accountability Team, set up in June to help bring war criminals to justice for atrocities in the Ukrainian conflict.

Widespread outrage at Russian mass killings and deportations as well as targeting of civilian infrastructure, has created bipartisan support for the justice for victims of war crimes bill. The legislation will transform US law so that suspected war criminals apprehended in the US, or extradited from elsewhere, can be prosecuted even if neither they nor their victims are Americans. The change would finally bring US law into line with the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

“It means that if a war criminal comes here, we have jurisdiction. It wouldn’t be just US victims and perpetrators, but any war criminal who sets foot in the United States,” Rosenbaum told the Guardian. “I know firsthand the frustration of having war criminals here and all you can do is revoke their citizenship and deport them unless some country wants to extradite them, which in the Nazi case almost never happened.”

Another bill is being drafted that would recognise crimes against humanity and allow them to be prosecuted in US courts, a statute every other Nato country has adopted except Italy. And there are bipartisan discussions under way for legislation that would allow the US to supply evidence to the international criminal court (ICC).

“Congress must strengthen our laws so that perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity will never find sanctuary in the United States,” Dick Durbin, the Senate majority whip and chair of the Senate judiciary committee, told the Guardian in an emailed statement. “I am determined to ensure that those who commit these heinous crimes are held to account. Our nation led the first prosecutions for such crimes in the Nuremberg trials. It’s time for the United States to take the lead once again.”

The justice for victims of war crimes bill is co-sponsored by the ranking Republican on the judiciary committee, Senator Chuck Grassley. His office did not respond to a request for comment, but a Democratic aide on the judiciary committee said that bipartisan support was so solid, that there were firm hopes of getting the bill passed before the end of the year, no matter the results of next month’s congressional elections.

Rosenbaum comes to the job of counselor for war crimes accountability with the reputation as the world’s most effective Nazi hunter. The justice department’s office of special investigations (OSI), which he worked for and then ran, tracked down more than a hundred former Nazis who had sought to blend in with American society.

Both his parents were Jewish refugees from Germany, and his father, Irving, joined the US army and went back as part of a psychological warfare unit, ending the war interrogating leading Nazis.

Rosenbaum joined the OSI as an intern soon after the unit was founded in 1979, and then returned as an attorney in 1980, becoming director in 1994. One of his earliest cases started with a book he happened to pick up in a shop while he was still an intern, about the Dora-Nordhausen concentration camp which provided the slave labour for the Nazis’ V2 rocket programme at Mittelwerk. Up to 20,000 prisoners are estimated to have died in the construction of the V-2 rockets there, far more than were killed by weapons when they rained down on Britain.

The book led him to ask questions about the culpability of Wernher von Braun and other Nazi rocket scientists who the US spirited away from Germany after the war as part of Operation Paperclip, aimed at securing their knowhow for the US and denying it to the Soviet Union.

Von Braun died in 1977, but Rosenbaum started scrutinising another engineer, Arthur Rudolph, who had gone on to run the Saturn V programme which propelled Americans to the moon. From Rudolph’s past statements, he had clearly been aware of Dora-Nordhausen, and at one point complained about having to leave a New Year’s party at the end of 1943 to oversee the movement of some equipment.

“By then I knew the men that he’s getting together to move the rocket parts in the dead of winter would not be civilian volunteers. These would be slaves.” Rosenbaum said. On being questioned by the OSI in 1983, Rudolph agreed to renounce his US citizenship and return to Germany.

Another of Rosenbaum’s early cases was Valerian Trifa, a former member of Romania’s fascist Iron Guard, who had become an archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox church in the US and Canada. As part of the research for the case, Rosenbaum had to go to the headquarters of the American Nazi party in Arlington, Virginia, in 1981, as the only place he could find a certain book on the Iron Guard was in its bookshop.

“They had a swastika on an enamel plate above the door, and during the day, they would fly both a Nazi flag and an American flag,” he recalled. “It was quite creepy inside there, and the guy who ran their bookstore was pretty creepy too. They had these giant flattering photographic portraits of Hitler and George Lincoln Rockwell, the founder of the American Nazi party.”

The Nazi headquarters is no longer there. The party went broke as it could no longer afford its rent and printing costs.

“Today, you don’t need a building, you don’t need a printing press. You just need either an internet access account, or a library card and a library that has internet terminals, and you can reach far more people than the Nazi party ever could,” Rosenbaum said.

Technology has also improved for those pursuing war criminals. The US has helped Ukraine set up a state-of-the-art database for recording war crimes, and one area where Rosenbaum’s team is expected to provide critical help in building cases is in providing electronic and radio intercepts. He was cautious, however, about the role of US intelligence agencies in supplying such evidence.

“Obviously the United States has had eyes on the Soviet and now the Russian military for many decades and we have a lot of resources that other governments may not be able to duplicate,” Rosenbaum said. “So I can only say: stay tuned. We work closely with all parts of the US government that potentially can help.”

He acknowledged that it might take many years before justice can be delivered for the crimes now being committed in Ukraine, but he said the OSI showed that he and his colleagues were not intimidated by the long pursuit or war criminals.

“The word that guides us is: we will be relentless,” Rosenbaum said. “So the message to perpetrators or would-be perpetrators is: if you act on criminal orders or issue criminal orders, you may well have to spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder. Don’t think about being a tourist after the war in most of Europe, because if we know about you, if Ukrainians know about you, if the ICC knows about you, you may just get arrested and extradited. So it’s a different world.”

[ssaalexblake]

@ravensbystarlight Oh thank god. I thought I was the only one who was really underwhelmed by the episode. The ending with Una could have been fitted at the end of any episode. Also the scenes in the future didn’t exactly show the characters in a favourable light. Plus I really refuse to believe that the only way the situation with the romulans could have played out was just in one exact way with only a few key people 🤷‍♀️

I’m just??? WHy wasn’t ep 9 the finale??? You don’t do a character death in ep 9 like that unless what happens in ep 10 is an absolute knockout or a deliberate display of the fallout from the death. Plus, i feel like there could have been some resonance in Pike deciding he needs to have this happen to him to save these people and the future in the episode before, and suddenly one of his crew has to die to save the others and is willing to do it. And Pike accepts that necessity, and gives Hemmer his blessing even as he hates it because he Gets it now. 

Then, they attend the funeral, are unexpectedly boarded and Una’s marched off unceremoniously and it makes it even more of a kick in the gut because just after a Funeral?? Do you have No shame??? 

I... Legit don’t get why they did it this way. It makes no sense. If nothing else, the Disrespect towards Hemmer not even getting a finale out of that story. 

I am willing to give them a pass on the romulan thing bc i interpreted it as Pike was actively the problem here. Not as much as only Kirk could do it as much as Pike couldn’t, and if Pike was still captain then he’d end up doing it by default and horrors would follow. So even if random captain 88 Could theoretically have solved the problem as well, if Pike was in charge, they still couldn’t have solved it because Pike was in charge and had authority? Unless I missed something, that was how I took that one. 

I think my main absolute gripe was what the ever loving Hell did they do to poor Erica??? Who was that character that actor was playing in this episode, bc they bore little similarity to Ortegas. Maybe a tiny bit like her fairy tale au self, but with no humour, just the urge to maim and kill. I’m pretty sure the Only reason Uhura was there was because she was supposed to be, they didn’t actually bother to do anything with her at all. La’an at least made sense to me? I’m on the fence abt her reaction to the Una question because on one hand, she was surprised and confused by the abruptness of it, but on the other... I imagine she’d be more angry about this all? Is she not Allowed to go talk to her friend in starfleet’s totally utopian forced labour camp or??? Did she just decide to write Una off after obviously forgiving her for the deception??? But then again, Pike apparently just went all business as usual about it, too, even if he doesn’t remember it. 

This whole ep felt like a first draft. The bones are there both story wise and character wise but everything is slightly/blatantly off and needs a rewrite to get the weirdness out. 

Also, Buy A Light.

 I literally had the brightness on full and I couldn’t tell if the guards on the romulan commander’s ship were romulan or reman. I could not tell the species of the people in the scene, which is a new low in the era of not bothering to light tv and film. 

#danni watches snw #ravensbystarlight #apparently i had more opinions abt this than i thought #but it was SO clunky #first draft clunky #how did this even happen??? the rest of the eps have been so tidy

[homeahoy]

I'll be your American Boy.

Warnings: None

Pairing: Pat Riley / ??

So this was going to be a 1 part drabble but it's going to be at least 2 short parts.

He technically shouldn't have been there, he was American and they hadn't even entered the war yet. He had wanted to defend the country he had called home since the age of seven. In a past life he had left school at 14 to work in the granite factory, but it had been boring. A life of drudgery and possible death due to a quarry accident.  It wasn’t how he wanted to spend his life. The army had been the means to a way out for someone who came from a life where there weren’t many options except a life of manual labour. The Coldstream Guards had been his home until he joined the commandos at the outbreak and found himself in the desert, then under the command of Jock Lewes. He had found himself temporarily back with the guards when Tobruk went south.   Now he was a sergeant major and part of the S.A.S. He had been one of the first to sign up when Stirling came calling. Reunited with his friends from Tobruk, Lewes, Almonds , Blakeney and Lilley.  It was safe to say the plucky American Pat Riley was a man of action. 

The reunion was short lived when Lewes was killed in action during a jolly to destroy an airfield.  Gunned down by the enemy while the others had watched while taking cover.  It had been a hard loss. One that had been felt through the newly formed SAS. Jock had been an admirable man, determined, forthright and hard working. He had also been a little bit man but weren’t they all. You had to be, to be willing to throw yourself out of planes in the dead of night or go on Jollies as they liked to call the raids. The following raid’s had helped secure their unit as an on Official part of the armed forces. He had to give it to Bill Fraser who despite his fragile look and sensitive manner was excellent in the field and when it came to leading raiding parties, his successes were a big part of them becoming who they were and Pat wasn’t one not to give credit where credit was due. 

It had been at the official announcement that they were officially a squadron that they had been advised they were getting five days leave as a reward for their successes.  It couldn’t have come at a better time.  While the loss of Jock had been a terrible one Pat had learned that you couldn’t hold on to your grief out here or it would eat you alive from the inside out. Yes he would always remember him and mourn his loss but he wasn’t going to let it become a distraction which could get him and others killed.  Some people would question this reasoning but he would have told them grief eats away at you, you can either become a shell distracted by your own sadness or a raging fury which could cause you to be rash and dangerous. He had seen it many times thus far in this seemingly endless war. 

The Journey from their camp to Cairo had been an uneventful one. Well unless you couldn’t the trucks and jeeps racing each other and the men within each bragging and making plans about what to do with their leave.  Pat had a plan, a plan that would see him both drunk and within the confines of a brothel for most of his leave.  When you shared a tent and a camp with many men there wasn’t much time or privacy to take care of certain needs. Upon reaching Cairo many of the men split into groups and headed off either to find old haunts or if they hadn’t been here before new ones.  Being an old hand on the streets of Cairo Pat made a beeline for the red light district, Almonds, Lilley and Blakeney in tow.  They first visited a few bars along the way. A few curious looks were thrown their way but nothing that ended up in a fight as of yet.  Entering one of the many brothel’s Pat made it his mission not to leave until he had to.  He just hoped to find someone who piqued his interest.

#sas: rogue heroes #based on tv series #pat riley

[cassianus]

Blessed Theodore Romzha

bishop and martyr

Official memorial: 31 October

Theodor George Romzha was born on 14 April 1911 in the Subcarpathian region, Austria-Hungary, in the village of Velykyy Bychkiv (a.k.a. Nagybocskó), Maramureș County. Theodore was the ninth child of a modest Greek Catholic family. His father worked as an official of the railways. After his graduation with the highest grade from the secondary school specialized in science in Khust in 1930, Theodore left for Rome to study philosophy and theology. He studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and there he was ordained priest at Christmas 1936. His motto was: "I love you, Lord, you are my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress."

Boldog Romzsa Todor

In the summer of 1937 he went home, where he completed his compulsory military service. From autumn he attended the military academy in Prague to become an army chaplain. From spring 1938, he served as a priest in the mountain villages of Brezova and Nyzhniy Bystryy (Maramureș). He wished to return to Rome to continue his studies but he was called up to the army again. Later on, he returned to the mountain villages, where "people were incredibly superstitious, they often gave more credit to all kinds of nonsense than to the dogmas of the Church". "I am trying to give light everywhere but my only hope is God's grace", he wrote in a letter dated 16 December 1938. His work was hindered by the border modifications introduced by the Vienna Awards, which also affected the government of his diocese. In autumn 1939, the bishop of the diocese of Mukacheve, Sándor Sztojka appointed him spiritual director and professor of philosophy at the Eparchial Seminary in Uzhhorod. He was literally a spiritual father to his seminarists, and he transmitted his theological knowledge with loving wisdom.

On 24 September 1944 he was consecrated auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Mukacheve, thus, when the Soviet army occupied the area, he acted as head of the diocese. The military occupation was followed by the restructuring of the public administration and the annexation of the Subcarpathian region by the Soviet Union. At the same time, the Orthodox Church launched an aggressive campaign against the (Greek) Catholic churches and priests in the Subcarpathian region, and called on them to accept the jurisdiction of the Orthodox patriarchate of Moscow. They also wanted Bishop Romzha to do so. However, he refused to obey them and continued to visit the villages of his diocese one by one, and encouraged, with his own fidelity, his priests and the faithful to persevere. The pressure weighing on him constantly increased: religion classes in schools were banned, youth associations were dissolved, there was a lack of prayer books and books of religion, innumerable priest were imprisoned, churches closed or handed over to the Orthodox Church. Despite the adverse circumstances, the bishop remained a good pastor of his flock: many memories have survived both of his liturgical celebrations and of his intimate and serene visits to the families.

In October 1947, he was invited to the re-dedication of the restored church of Lokhovo (a.k.a. Beregszőllős). He was aware of the fact that, as a consequence of his loyalty to the Church and his resistance to the Communists, his life was in imminent danger. Nevertheless, he decided to go. The liturgical event took place without any problems. On the way back, however, Bishop Romzha's horse-drawn carriage was purposely rammed by a truck, whose passengers beat the bishop and his companions until they lost consciousness. The injured were taken to the hospital of Mukachevo. The bishop was beginning to regain his strength when he was poisoned early in the morning of 1 November 1947.

His veneration spread among the faithful and priests of his diocese from the day of his death as a martyr. Some priests offered the Holy Mass for him already in the labour camps, and many families used to finish their night prayer with the following petition: "Bishop Theodore, martyr, pray for us!" Prayer cards that the priests of the diocese used to pray asking God to glorify their martyred bishop by canonizing him were found in various old prayer books and priestly estates. Their prayers were accepted: Theodore Romzha was beatified, along with twenty-eight Greek Catholic martyrs, by Pope John Paul II on 27 June 2001.